Why Americans like big cars

Today’s New York Times has an interesting article about making the minivan “cool” again. It brings to my mind a regulatory issue that could be viewed as a front in the war between environmentalists and families with children.

I’m not talking about some kind of population control conspiracy, but rather the demonization of large vehicles, and the attempt to eliminate them through regulation. I’m referring to Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, which require automakers to sell more small cars in order to offset the emissions of the larger cars they sell.